Emergency-brake for vehicles.



H. F. DIETZ.

EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1909.

Patented July 5, 1910.

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN F. DIE'IZ, OF LIVERPOOL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ANTHONY WILL, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

EMERGENCY-BRAKE non VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 29, 1909. Serial No. 520,175.

Patented July 5, 1910.

in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, add exact description.

This invention relates to certam improvements in emergency brakes for automobiles and similar vehicles, and comprises a drag 5 chain or. shoe, which is normally held clear of the ground by a,suitable detent, but may i be instantly released when necessary by simply tripping the detent and allowing the chain or shoe to drop by gravity to the ground and trail ;'under the wheel, thereby stopping the rotation of the wheel, almost instantaneously, interposing between the vglheel and groun the roughened drag or s 0e.

The main object is to provide a simple emergency brake which may be readily attached to any automobile or similar vehicle, directl in front of one of the rear wheels and a apted to be instantly brought into action, when necessary, between the tread of the wheel and ground to not only check'the.

rotation of the wheel, but also to afford a maximum degree of resistance against thesliding of the shoe upon the ground.

Another object is to provide a simple means whereby the brake shoe and its swinging support may be properly housed and concealed when not in use;

' Other objects and-usesrelating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is .a. perspective view of a portion of an automobile, showing the application of my improved emergency brake shoe, said brake being shown in operative position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the detached brake mechanismshown by full lines in its inoperative position, and by dotted lines in its operativeposition.

In carr swinging at -2, in this instance to the under side of the running board or step, as -a, of the machine, directly in front of one or both of the rear wheels, as .-3-, so as to swin forwardly and rearwardly toward and ing but the objects stated, a

ame +1 is hinged at one end I from the wheel and also to and from a horizontal posltion of rest, when not in use. i

A suitable. shoe '4,

swinging frame 1 in such manner that referably consisting of a net work of chains or combined chains and rods connected together, is attached at one end to the free end of the when theswinging frame is released from its normal inoperative position, it will swing downwardly and rearwardly by its owngravity, toward and against the front face of the wheel 3 and allow the shoe -4-- to trail upon the ground and under thetread face of saidwheel, the chain shoe being flexible and readily conforming to the contour of the tire, so that when 1t is brought into use. in case of emergency it not only effectively prevents further rotation of the wheel and affords greater resistance against sliding of the shoe, but also protects the tread of. the tire against undue abrasion, su

as would 'be produced by the sudden, stoppage of the rotation of the wheel in direct sliding contact with the ground. The i distance from the swinging axis to the bottom of the frame -1, when in a vertical position, is less than the distance from said axis to the horizontal plane of the tread portion of the wheel in contact with the avement, "so as to allow the frame to swing reely, clear of the. ground or pavement, al-

though the combined length of the swing ing frame and shoe 4 is considerably greater-than such distance, thereby allowing a considerable portion of the shoe to trail upon-the ground. and directly under the tread of the wheel, when released from its normal position.

A suitable casing or housing. --5 is hinged at one end at -6 to the under side of the running board or step -a,-, some distance in front of the hinge connection 2- between the swinging frame -1- and running board, the length of the box being equal to or greater than the length of the swinging frame --1 and, when inv its closed po- ,sition against the under side of the running board, extends to or slightly beyond the hinge connection 2 and is of greater width than the swin ng frame, so as to. ef-

fectively inclose an conceal the swinging frame and shoe thereon, when the latter are folded and moved to their normal or inoperative position. The housing -5- is held --aand in its normal or closed position a s uitable' detent f-'7 which, in this instance, is formed upon or secured to a crank arm 'eB-j-Of a rock shaft-9+ the latter ex-I -tending lengthwise of the running board is journaled-there'on in suitable bearings 10+; This rock shaft 9 is provided with ana'dditional crank arm '11--' pro ectin 1 inwardly under the body, as +B, o the vehicle where it is operatively connected to a crank arm 12--.of a suitable-shaft ,-13, which latter isjournaled in suitable bearings ,-14 to the chassis .or to the under side of the body .B--. LSec'ur ed to the rock:.shaft-k131 is a crank arm --"-'-15' extending upwardly through "the floor. or. bottom of the B. and-provided at its up er end ,Wlt a pedal 16'- which is locate within easy reaching distance ofthefoot of the driver, so that-a sli ht forward pressure upon the edal willeectivelytrip= the detent 7- romits *holding position and allow the housing -5 to swing-downwardly and forwardly-and thereby permit the frame ''1- with the shoe 4-'.ithereon-to swing downwardly andrearwardly until the shoe I drags ,u on the ground and trailsunder the pavement.

tread vo the wheel or between the wheel and Although this brake-may be used any time, it is designed to be used only in cases Ofemergency when the regular brakes have failed to operate 'or to prevent skidd ng of the rear-end 0f the machine on slippery pavements, especially when bringing the the housi then rocks I the running board 50.

under side. of the housing to hol machine to a stop-on steep slippery de'scentsL In adjusting the device to ts normal or inoperative position, the, machine is backed off; from the shoe whereupon the frame -.l-

comprising a swinging support, a series of chainsconneoted tothe support and adapted when released to trailunder the wheel, ,a-

swinging housing. hinged on a different axis from that of'the sup ort and movable to and from-a horizonta position to receive and retain the chains and support in their when released to trail un chain .to a nearly ver -and upwardly to aand a movable detent inoperative position,

holding the housing in operable at will for its 0 erative. osition.

2. 11 com ination with the top of a vehicle and vehicle wheel, a swin g support hinged to the under side of tfie step, a chain connected to the sup 0 er the whee, a housing also hinged to the under side of thes'te and movable toward and from the same or receiving and retaining the chain and its support in their inoperative positions, and movable 3. In an emergency brake forwheel vehicles, a swinging sup ort and a swin'gin housing. both mounte on separate axes. an movable to and from'asubstantially horizontal position, movable means for holding the housing in such position, and a chain attached/to the swin suppbrt and adapted to trail underthe wfiie'el when, the housingis released.

{1. An'emergency brake for vehicle wheels comprising a U-shalped supporting bar hinged at one end, 0 ains attached tothe opposite end of the bar and ada ted when released totrail. under the whee said 'bar ort and ada ted.

means for retaining the housing in its operative position.

and chains being foldable in a substantiallg a horizontal POSifilOIl when not in use, an

e means controlled by the operator movabl for holding said bar and chains in such position. I I

Y 5. In an emergency-brake for vehicles, a rigid support, a swinging frame hinged to the support in proximity to the en hery of the wheel, jehains attached to the Frame and adapted when released to; trail under the wheel, a housing hinged to the rigid support some distance in front of the swing ing frame and. foldable to and from ahorizon al positionfor receiving and retaining the swinging frame and chains in their inoperative position, and a movable detent operable .at will for holding 6; An emergency brake for vehicle wheels the housing in its operative position. I

comprising a shoe-support hinged to the vehicle to swin towar and from the front face-of one o the wheels, a flexible shoe connected :to the support and adapted to trail under the wheel when the support is released, and a housing hinged to the vehicle for receiving the support and shoe and hold-; ing them away from such wheel. I

n witness whereof I have hereunto set Witnesses H. E. ems, H. L. Humnnnr.

my hand on this 24th day of 'September HERMAN F. 1 DIETZ. I 

